Monday, December 19, 2011

So we are coming close to the end of 2011, and I couldn't be happier. Although 2011 was MUCH better than 2010, 2012 is going to be the best by far. I now have a new prespective on life. My family is complete, and we can start a new chapter in our lives. I read a quote on Pinterest that says "You cannot start a new chapter in your life if you keep re-reading the last one." So true!

I have so many things planned for the new year and for a new me. Along with the bucket list I made for myself to complete as life goes on, I have made one specifically for 2012. If you haven't made your bucket list, I suggest you start one. Its a great motivator!

I cannot wait for the new year to start. So many people say that they are going to change this or that, or do this or that in the new year, but hardly any of them actually do it. Well, I refuse to be a statistic. Since the things on my bucket list are goals and not resolutions, they are attainable.

Starting in the new year, I will start a new blog. I haven't decided on a nifty name yet, but it will document my crafts. I am going to do 52 crafts (one each week) and then blog about how easy or difficult they were and include pictures. Be on the lookout! I am also thinking about doing a blog about my weight loss and training for the marathon...haven't completely decided on that yet. I think that it would help me loose the weight because I couldn't leave my readers hanging right! :)

I really appreciate those that read this blog, and I hope that you will continue to follow this and my other blogs in the new year. I also hope that I have inspired you (or will in the future) to make changes for yourself. Just remember that if you are going to make a change, do it for yourself and NOT for anyone else. If someone wants you to change anything, they dont really love you for you.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Ok I don't claim to be the best parent in the world. I admit that I have made many mistakes as a parent, and I know that I will make more along the way.

Some parents amaze me though...

Today I took Trent and Dylan to McDonald's for lunch. We don't sit in the play area while we eat, because a nearly 3 year old WILL NOT eat if there is a slide present...oh and I dont think that kids need to eat in the play place...gross. Anyway, after we were done eating, I let Trent go play. Yes, he took his shoes off, but he had socks on. So there was this little boy that was playing, he had to have just turned two. First, he was playing with a ketchup packet that was not from McD's. Imagine if hed actually got it open...then I saw him paying with a straw! In the play area! That is so dangerous people! Luckily he didnt fall or get pushed down...

Then there was another lady. She had three kids, none of which had a jacket on by the way, but SHE had on a jacket. One of her kids was walking around in short tights and a t-shirt...IT WAS 50 DEGREES OUT! Come on lady! And then they wonder why their kids get sick...

Ok one more...

McD's recently renovated the play area. They added in a stage coach seating area which includes bar type seating. There was a little boy crawling all over the bar! Its not a far drop, but he still could have gotten hurt if he fell...

I think that some parents leave their common sense at home when they leave the house...

And they were probably thinking "Gosh that lady can't even dress her kid right..." (Trent was wearing two different socks, that he picked out and put on himself...HA!)

Thursday, December 15, 2011

So Ive been on Pinterest for a few weeks and i look at these neat things that people come up with, and its got me thinking "Now why didn't I think of that?!" Some people are simply genius! I mean taking old pallets and making them into a bed or an entertainment center? Making several mason jars into a chandelier? Seriously? When I looked at a pallet, all I would see was a bunch of old wood with nails in it and mason jars were for canning right? Boy I was so wrong...

So as you know my huby and I have decided that we are going to build our dream house out of old shipping containers...so following those lines, I have also decided that a lot of our household decor will also be made of recycled items (I believe its called upcyling).

So Ive already mentioned the pallets and mason jars, but what about an old metal rake? How about making it into a wine glass rack? Genius!

Have some old tires or cinder blocks? Make them into a garden! Genius!

What about those metal vegetable cans? Ever think to spray paint them and nail them to a wall for storage? Genius!

Milk cartons made into a leftover container? Wine bottles made into vases or candle holders? Genius!

If you haven't looked at Pinterest yet, highly suggest you do. It will bring out the crafter inside you! Even if your not crafty, there are some really useful tips and tricks on there as well. Today I found a blogger who rolled her grocery store bags so that they can be pulled out of a Lysol cleaning wipe can...SERIOUSLY! I've been storing mine all wrong! I rolled my bags, but instead of putting them in the lysol can, I put mine in a baby wipe box...same idea, and still genius! I've also decided that I will decorate the wipe box so that others know that there are bags in there, not wipes.

The other day, I stole some of my hubby's shirts and made t-shirt vests out of them!

This website has really got me thinking about tons of things that I want to make for my future home, my boys, myself, and others. There are already a few things that I have found that will be gifts for my family.

The website isn't all crafty things though...you can pin pictures of places you want to travel, things that you want, things that are funny, and tons of other stuff. Its really a good way to express yourself through the internet! Need some ideas for family pictures that aren't traditional? Need some wedding ideas? Want a new look? ITS ALL ON THERE! Its like a million websites all rolled into one. Oh and did I mention that you can add to the craziness of pinterest? Yes. If you find a picture of whatever on the internet somewhere, you just download this little "pin it" link onto your favorites bar, and you can pin things to your board and also onto the website for others to see. Super cool!

So anyway, the point of this blog is that after being on pinterest and seeing the genius ideas that people come up with, I often think to myself "why didnt I think of that?!"

Monday, December 12, 2011

So the hubby and I were talking, and we have decided that instead of paying for a mortgage for years, were going to build a house...out of old shipping containers. I know, I know. It sounds crazy, but they are actually pretty cool. Basically you only use them for the skeleton of the house (the outside) and then you cut out the insides to make the house...

Trust me I was not on board at first either. he showed me a few pictures of houses that had been built from these shipping containers, and I have to admit, they look pretty cool. You can do whatever you want to them, and its so much cheaper than building a house from scratch. Did I mention that they will withstand just about any kind of storm mother nature can throw at you?

So its been decided...were going to get 4 of these shipping containers and build our dream home...once we find land of course. We've already decided on a layout and I've started picking out some things that I would like to have in my house.

Now we just need to decide where we are going to find land and start saving our money!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

So thanks to Pinterest.com I found some very encouraging words to live by. Some a cute, some are sweet, and some are just funny! P.S. if you haven't checked out pinterest.com I suggest you look at it, unless you have something better to do... :)

"Everything will be alright. Maybe not today, but eventually."

"Be so happy that when others look at you, they become happy too!"

"When I get sad, I stop being sad and be AWESOME instead."

"Rudeness is the weak persons imitation of strength."

"Follow your hear, but take your brain with you."

" The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These person's have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen." -Elizabeth Kubler Ros

"If you spent less time bitching about your life, you'd possibly enjoy it more."

"It's not a hangover. It's wine flu."

"Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day."

"When people walk away from you...let them go...Your destiny is never tied down to anyone who leaves you, and it doesn't mean they are bad people. It just means that their part in your story is over."

"Life is too short to stress yourself with people who don't deserve to be an issue in your life."

"Do what you feel in heart is right-for you'll be criticized anyway."-Eleanor Roosevelt

"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about."

"Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." (YEA RIGHT!!!)

"Enjoy the little things in life...for one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things."

Friday, December 9, 2011

Before Trent was born, I would wonder how I would do things with a baby. How would things be different? Could I still do what I needed/wanted to do with a baby?

After a few months of having Trent, I figured it out. Grocery shopping got easier, running errands was fairly simple. I figured out how to open doors for myself even with the carseat and diaper bag. I could even feed him and do other things...I thought I was supermom!

One kid is easy.

When I got pregnant with Dylan, I often wondered how much things were going to change. Trent could walk and talk and help me out...another baby would be easy...right?

I thought "pssh if I can do it with one, I can do it with two!" Boy was I mistaken...

Onto my adventure today...

Dylan had a doc appt for his two month shots. Of course Trent wanted to touch this, wash his hands in the sink, play on the doctors chair, climb on the exam table...pretty much drive me crazy. Dylan got his shots, and of course flipped out. So in the midst of consoling a crying infant, I had to put trents shoes back on, put on his jacket, and put everything back into the diaper bag that Trent so graciously pulled out.

Then we went to lunch...Dylan is sleeping at this point, but Trent doesnt want to eat. So we leave.

Onto HEB...oh man. I thought maybe it would be easier if I carried Dylan in the front carrier thing that straps on and put Trent in the basket. Although I didnt have to chase Trent, Dylan was sooo fussy. Dylan is not a fussy baby, at all. I know it was because of the shots, so I tried not to get frustrated...

This is where people start to annoy me. They see a mother struggling to push a basket with one hand, one kid trying to escape from the basket, and an infant crying, and all they can do is smile and say "oh what cute kids"...errrr! yes they are cute, but quit stopping me because I just want to go home!! Oh and HEB didnt have the milk I needed...they were all out...now I'm a tad irritated.

So I finish getting what I need and my basket is overflowing. We get in line and I'm trying to put the groceries on the counter while Trent keeps standing up trying to get the divider thing to play with it like a train. Naturally, Dylan has fallen asleep now. Im trying to get all my coupons together, Trent is crying for some buddy bucks, and the lady from the next register keeps blabbing on and on about her granddaughter who just turned two months and is getting shots soon....blah blah blah. Im hot because I still have my jacket on, Dylan has woken up and is crying again, and the girl bagging up my groceries didnt even offer to help me out. Fine. I will do it myself! She probably doesnt have kids...

I get both boys in the car, all the groceries in the car, get in my seat, turn on the car, put on my seatbelt and realize that I forgot formula...errr.

Onto to walmart we go! I had to get milk anyway. Walmart was a little better, except Trent decided to use the wrapping paper tube as a megaphone for his "firetruck" siren...oh and he hit a few people with it...errr!

We were finally on our way home...

On the way home I finally had a chance to breathe and realize that I kinda feel like Im getting sick...great.

We are finally home, the groceries are put away, Dylan is sleeping comfortably, Trent is playing nicely with his cars, and I still feel like im getting sick. I need a nap! :)

Sorry if I seemed to just rattle on, but I needed to vent just a little.

So as you know, Josh and I have been discussing moving back to San Antonio. I am so torn with this idea…

To move or not to move? I have decided to use this post as a pro and con list for moving and staying…

Pros to moving:

Be closer to family

Be able to have mommy/daddy dates

No 5 hour drive

Have a house on land

Get Charlie (our dog) back once we get a house

Cons:

Have to pack up AGAIN!

Truck rental and other moving expenses

Possibility of not finding a house

Cannot bring back the past…nothing will be the same

So now onto the pros and cons of staying…

Pros:

Be on our own…no one to answer to

Kids will go to a very good school

Love the annual celebrations in Midlothian

Chance to establish ourselves in a new town

New, possibility better opportunities

Cons:

Family is far away

LONG 5 hour drive to San Antonio

May not be able to afford a house

Unless we find a house, Charlie has to stay in SA

So there they are…the pros and cons. Even after writing this I am still torn, but I think I am leaning more toward staying…at least for another year. I think that we (me, Josh, Trent, and Dylan) need to grow as a family together, before we move back to San Antonio. Also, I think that it would be MUCH easier to move with two kids that can walk rather than with an infant…

So I was talking with Josh the other night, and we were discussing the idea of moving again. I’m still torn on that idea, but that’s another blog…

I was telling him that I was kind of afraid to move back, because now I have this new sense of who I am and what I want. I’m afraid because I don’t want to be brought back down to the person that is afraid to be herself. I realized that I have a fear of rejection…majorly.

I have always been afraid to voice my opinion, write blogs, be really creative, etc because of the fear of everything being rejected by others. When I found out that people were actually interested in what I have to say (my wonderful readers) it made me super happy! Even if they don’t like what I have to say, at least they are interested!

Now that I have realized that, I cannot let it stop me from being truly happy with myself. I cannot be afraid of letting myself shine!

I have to give a shout out to tipjunkie.com and pinterest.com, and also the friends who turned me on to those sites. I truly believe that I have discovered myself through these sites. I think it is because I am able to express myself. Also, thanks to the same friend who turned me onto pinterest.com (Callie J), I am finally able to express myself in words through this blog.

I am a firm believer in throwing out the old and bringing in the new. In a weird way, I have kind of “thrown” out the old me through the use of this blog, and I am bringing in a new me by letting people see (or read about) who I really am. I’ve been hurt, I’ve lost people I love, I’ve been really broke, and I’ve experience depression and major stress, but through all of that, I have grown into a person that I can say I am proud of. I am proud of myself. I am happy with me. I love me!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Have you seen that movie The Bucket List? I haven't...yet. But I have heard of people making bucket lists. You're supposed to write down goals that you want to accomplish, places you want to go, dreams you want to make come true, things that you want to happen before you "kick the bucket". I've been making mine for years mentally, but I never actually sat down and wrote it out. Yesterday I finally sat down and wrote out my list. There were more things on it than I thought! Some of the things that I wrote down seem petty, but you're supposed to write down things that you would like to do if you had unlimited time and money.

At first, I was just going to make this list of things that I thought I would like and just kinda keep it to myself, but I did a little research and found out that you're supposed to share your list with firends and family, and post it in places where you will see it everyday. Apparently, once you make one, you are supposed to strive to actually reach those goals. Makes sense to me!

48.Write a letter to 3 friends letting them know how much they mean to me

49.Get a complete makeover

50.Learn to salsa dance

51.Go on a random vacay with no itinerary

52.Take up knitting

53.Take up crocheting

54.Save over $100 with coupons

55.Go snorkeling

56.

Notice 56 is blank...that is so I can continue to add to my list. I hope that my list will inspire your list. To me, a bucket list gives you a reason to wake up everyday. A reason to strive to reach the silly goals you have in life...like #20 on mine! I've always wanted a purse that costs more than $20 and wasn't bought at Walmart...

I let my hubby read this list last night. Some of the things he laughed at, and some he agreed we could make happen. Later that night, he started talking about things that he was going to put on his list...I was excited! He was making on too! I have a feeling that things are going to get really fun in our household!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Ok so here's a little bit of honesty that I haven't really shared with a lot of people...after I had Trent, I went through some sort of depression. I wasn't the crazy kind where I wanted to kill myself or anything, but I just wasn't interested in anything. Sex, cooking, cleaning, friends, family...nothing. I barely even wanted to shower because I just didn't care.

Luckily, my wonderful husband understood, kind of. He didn't really understand what was going on because I still managed to put a smile on for show. I could make it appear that everything was ok on the inside, and sometimes it was.

When my husband lost his job in March of 2009, it just seemed to get worse. When we moved back to San Antonio, I thought things were going to get better, but they didn't. When I got pregnant in 2010, and then lost the baby, we were so stressed out, and my depression was still present, that we barely even talked to each other. He was working nights, so when Trent and I were awake, he was sleeping. This was a very difficult time for us.

Once we moved to North Texas, things started really looking up. We were away from drama and we had a fresh new start. Josh had a new job, I was in school, and everything was just going to get better!

It was a slow start, but things are progressively getting better. The depression is completely gone and I am happy and full of life!

With the birth of Dylan came a flood of creativity and happiness. Considering that I could have died the day that he was born, I am so happy with my life right now. I am very thankful to be sitting here writing this blog and to also have two of the most gorgeous kids sitting next to me.

I don't know what has gotten into me, but after some surfing on the web, I have SO many ideas for things that I want to make, do, and see.

I was lucky to have gone through a very mild depression and survived without the use of any medication. I just tried to stay positive, and I kept telling myself that things were going to get better. After years of telling myself that, I think it has finally paid off. I feel so giddy now because of all the fun things that I have planned for the coming year.

In January, my hubby and I are going to file bankruptcy (sounds horrible, but it will pay off). We are doing this so that we can buy a house and get a new car for our family. Our dream is to have 3 or 4 acres of land, a large mobile home, and a fenced yard with dogs and kids running around. I want a swimming pool and a trampoline for my boys. I also want to get them a four wheeler, and bikes and all the things that boys are supposed to have growing up.

In February, I am throwing Trent a huge party for his third birthday. He is going to be a superhero! I am so excited for this party that it cannot get here fast enough! I am very thankful for my parents who are helping me put this huge party together. BTW, if you need a cake made for any occasion, my step-mom makes beautiful cakes...she also take amazing pictures!

March, April, and May are going to be dedicated to loosing weight and preparing to train for a marathon.

June is my birthday month and I plan on celebrating my 25th birthday in the one place that I can relax completely...the Port Aransas beach. I cannot wait for June...I miss the beach so much! Even the sand, which I never really cared for!

July, August, and September are going to be dedicated to training for the marathon in November. I am planning on running in the Rock and Roll marathon in San Antonio.

October my baby boy turns 1. I will be throwing another huge party for him! Thanks to tipjunkie.com I already have ideas for his party...it is going to be super fun! Oh and more training for the marathon...

November is marathon month! Can't wait to show off my new body in spandex and a sports bra!

December will be great. The first Christmas that both of my boys will participate in! Dylan will be there this year, but of course he will probably be sleeping through the entire day...

So thats what I have planned for next year. Tons of fun and happiness with my family! Somewhere in there, Josh and I are going to take the boys on our first family vacay...wonder where were gonna go?

I am also planning on crafting and cooking tons of new things...be prepared for blogs of things I am making!

I pray that my readers also have an excellent new year and may it be blessed with tons of happiness and love!!

About Me

I am a wife, mother, sister, and daughter. I love my family more than words could ever say. I have lost so many in my life, that I cherish the ones that are still with me. I have two beautful boys that are my world. I am married to the love of my life and best friend.